My Third Blogiversary- Not Quite a Farewell

The day has finally come. I am officially observing my third blogiversary. It is a day of celebration and festivity. I'd provide you with a complete itinerary of the day, but I am really freaking tired so I am going with my favorite minhag of musing about this and that.

Truth is for a while I had a couple of ideas about what this post would be about. The idea was going to be to produce something truly meaningful. After almost 5,000 posts I thought that it would be nice to come up with a really good post, but I seem to be falling short of the mark. The ideas that I had for this blogiversary post came to me during moments in which I didn't have access to paper so I never wrote them down.

It is like when you have a dream in which you manage to solve that one problem that has been nagging you. You know the one, you wake up around 3 am and there in the dark you smile and feel a tremendous sense of relief. Unfortunately in the morning sunshine that sense of relief dissipates because the solution no longer makes sense. Like I said, I never was able to write down the ideas for this post so they are lost.

But that is ok. This place is called random thoughts for a meaning. It is an outlet in which I can express my feelings and consider my thoughts about life. Certainly it is not the same as it used to be. There has been an evolution of sorts and that is how it should be.

When I first began blogging I didn't really know what I wanted to do. I didn't give any thought as to what this would be. Unlike some other bloggers I didn't start out as a lurker who became a blogger. I didn't read any blogs until I began blogging. I just started writing and went where the words took me. As I mentioned above it has been an evolutionary process.

I'd like to believe that this experience has helped to improve my writing because that has always been one of the reasons for my blogging. The interaction with others has been great. I have made some good friends and exposed to people and places that I never otherwise would have encountered. Those of you who have been following along have gotten to share the ride on some very good and some very bad times for me.

The blogosphere has given me quite a lot. Along with much of the good I have experienced some of the low points. There have been some nasty disagreements and there have been several attempts to out me. Some people have tried to use my words to hurt me. It would be incorrect to say that some of these experiences haven't upset me, but it would also be inaccurate to suggest that they were so painful that I wouldn't withstand them.

I have a special message that will be understood by those it is directed to. Do not mistake my lack of response to your petty attempts as encouragement to continue. I have always reserved my right to respond and should I ever choose to do so it will always be in a time, place and manner of my choosing. The best thing for you to do is to simply walk away. I am a Taurus, you never want to find out if the bull has been sharpening his horns or not.

Now back to our real message. As I mentioned early on in this post I am a bit disappointed that this post doesn't seem to be of the quality that I wish it would be, but that is a part of blogging. Often the posts that we think are the best are the ones that seem to generate the least response from readers. More often than not it feels like the throwaway post is the one that does better.

I don't know how much longer I will continue to blog. That is not to suggest that I am going to lay down my keyboard and retire any time soon. Blogging is a marathon and not a sprint. In theory I'd like to continue for the rest of my life. That is quite an endeavor, but I suspect that it might make for some interesting reading for my children, grandchildren etc.

Anyway for the interim it is safe to say that I am going to keep blogging until it is no longer enjoyable.

20 comments:

Paula said...

Happy Blogiversary! I'm a Taurus too and know exactly what you mean. Keep up the good work, Jack. :)

orieyenta said...

I suspect that it might make for some interesting reading for my children, grandchildren etc.

I would call that a worthy endeavor indeed.

Happy Blogiversary!

Stacey said...

Often the posts that we think are the best are the ones that seem to generate the least response from readers. More often than not it feels like the throwaway post is the one that does better.

I wouldn't measure the quality of a post based on the number of comments it generates.

Happy 3rd Blogiversary!

Anonymous said...

Happy Blogiversary! Mine came and went without much fanfare because I, um, forgot.

Even when blogging isn't fun anymore, sometimes it's good to hang on for a while. The fun sometimes comes back, as I am discovering.

Anonymous said...

Way to go JACK! Man, you have written a lot of posts! I'm just on #240 or so and sometimes I think I'm out of steam, but you've been rolling for great deal longer. Keep it up- you always have something interesting to say. :)

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! Now, don't scare me like that with your talking of quitting, not quitting.

Rafi G. said...

mazel tov... stay the course...

Deadman said...

Happy Birthday, Jack!

Not fucking with the bull so one doesn't get the horn is advice every blogger should follow. Especially those who are blinded by their own arrogance.

And being a Taurus is secondary to that.

Another meshugannah mommy said...

Happy blogoversary to one of our most prolific writers!

Anonymous said...

mazel tov!

Sarah Likes Green said...

happy blogiversary!

keep it up - we're still reading :)

Jack Steiner said...

Miz,

Thank you.

Orieyenta,

Thanks. I have my share of frivolous fun, but there needs to be a balance. I hope that this continues to serve as that.

Stace,

Well said.

Alison,

That is good. This is too much work to do unless you enjoy it or are well paid.

Amishav,

I suspect that there are at least another 9,897,339 good ideas in your head.

Rhea,

For the right price I can guarantee that I'll continue to stick around. ;)

Mark,

Thanks. If I wasn't blackballed by your spam filter you'd see me comment more frequently.

Ocean Guy,

You have been doing this for a long time. I alway look around to see what secrets the masters use.

Sarah,

Thank you.

Jack Steiner said...

AMM,

Oops, didn't mean not to include you. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Mazal tov!

Deadman said...

"If I wasn't blackballed by your spam filter you'd see me comment more frequently."

You know, I have to take that up with the Munuvian Council.

Remind me again, what word was triggering the filter?

Anonymous said...

Mazal Tov, you write one of the best blogs and have always been an inspiration to us.

Jack Steiner said...

AD,

Thank you.

Mark,

The Munuvian Council hasn't been the same since the High Blogger took ill and the Emperor grabbed control.

Robert,

You are far too generous and kind. Your words serve as a better description of your blog and your talent as a writer. I am still a young pup learning how to improve my craft.

Deadman said...

You are good to go on comments, Jack and we have the Munuvian ogre to thank!

Jack Steiner said...

Beautiful. Thank you.

Deadman said...

Hey, I'm not the ogre! But you're welcome. I'll tell him you said thanks!

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